Here are the free beaches at Lake Balaton – MAP

Lake Balaton is not only the most popular summer destination among Hungarians but also among many foreign visitors. However, the “Hungarian sea” is becoming more and more expensive as the prices of accommodation, real estate and food have been continuously rising. On top of it all, you have to pay an entrance fee of 2-3-4 EUR on most of the beaches. Fortunately, some of them remained free. One of the Hungarian media outlets collated the remaining free beaches around Lake Balaton. You can find their list below. 

The number of free beaches did not decrease

Pénzcentrum asked all local municipalities on the lake to operate free public beaches and compiled a list of such beaches in their article. It appears that, compared to 2022, the number of free beaches did not decrease.

The number of free beaches currently stands at 57.

When asked, the local municipalities stated that they did not plan to impose entrance fees on these beaches. The media outlet suggested there should be an official register of such beaches, but the Hungarian Tourism Agency did not answer their request.

Interestingly, there are only two free public beaches left on the more popular northern coast of the lake. Tihany and Örvényes will remain free for all visitors even in 2022. Both mayors confirmed that to Pénzcentrum.

• Read also: Bathing in Lake Balaton to become impossible in 10-15 years?

Brutal price rise at Lake Balaton

In many cases, imposing an entrance fee is neither easy nor worth it. Additional obligations can reduce the revenue. Furthermore, in some cases, the small size of the beach precludes that option, Árpád Győrffy, chief editor of Balatontipp, asserted. 

Győrffy added that the reasons for the increasing entrance fees are the rising food and drink prices. Compared to 2021,